Wine Ratings

wines

The incredible 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate appears to be a natural born legend. It competes with the other-worldly 1987 in terms of pure richness and flavor. It possesses amazing depth, an impenetrably opaque purple color, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. The wine offers a fabulously ripe nose of black-raspberries, cassis, spices, and vanillin. This is the second vintage where the type of tannins achieved by Montelena are softer and sweeter. This is clearly a 20-30 year Cabernet.Robert Parker | 97 RPThe 1991 Chateau Montelena put the Pomerol in its place, incontrovertibly emerging as the star of the evening. The bouquet is utterly sublime, offering enticing scents of blackberries, iodine and a hint of cassis, opulent but beautifully controlled and defined. The palate does not disappoint, delivering plenty of fresh black fruit laced with raspberry preserve and cassis, all wrapped up in a seductive velvety texture that belies the structure underneath. Wonderful!Vinous Media | 95 VMSmooth, rich and intense without being overly tannic. The core of black cherry, anise, blackberry and currant flavors is well-focused, turning supple, with persistent flavors on the finish.--’81/’91 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2006. 12,000 cases made. — JLWine Spectator | 91 WS

A compelling example of this noble terroir in the northeastern sector of Napa Valley, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard still has a dense purple color and possesses a seamless personality with spectacular notes of licorice, incense, black raspberries, black currants, crushed rock, and spring flowers. Stunningly full-bodied, multi-layered, with great purity and expression, this fabulous wine is still youthful but very accessible, as the tannins are velvety and well-integrated. This wine will keep aging beautifully for a minimum of another quarter century. Bravo!Robert Parker | 99 RP(contains 4% cabernet franc) Ruby-red. Warm and inviting aromas of plum, mocha, tobacco, smoke and spices. Rich, silky and suave, with mellow, claret-like flavors of currant, plum, tobacco and mocha. Pure, layered and stylish wine, finishing with substantial but lush tannins and subtle persistence. One can see the hand of consulting enologist Michel Rolland in this wine.Vinous Media | 94 VMWonderful complexity, depth and finesse, with layers of mocha, espresso, currant, wild berry and vanilla bean flavors that are sharply focused, finishing with tight yet supple tannins and a long, rich aftertaste with layers of complexity. Best from 2005 through 2012. 1,600 cases made. Wine Spectator | 92 WS